Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Since the United States is swimming in the Sea of Rationalizations, I thought that it's about time to brush off a few cliches and jump right in to test the water.

First, our life is a bowl of cherries. We empathize and realize that's not the case for everyone; never has been, never will be. Still, the world is in better shape than it has ever been - less warfare and killing, better health and nutrition, and vast reduction in poverty. It's still not perfect; never has been, never will be. But we're grateful and happy for its progress. The glass is more than half full!

2016 was a busy year for these two retirees. The biggest, almost all-consuming activity, has been Alice's soon-to-be finished (ready for an editor and publisher) memoir, The Lady with Balls, her account of founding and growing a business in the then male-dominated garbage recycling industry. It's suspenseful, poignant, thought provoking, sometimes sexy, often humorous, and thoroughly readable. Alice is already contemplating which of today's screen stars could best portray her on the big screen, and later in the sit-com (situation comedy for those of us who don't watch TV). Alice has made writing The Lady with Balls a full-time job for the past two years, and her hard work will be rewarded, as sure as God made little green apples, and it rains in Indianapolis in the summertime.

The past year hasn't been all hard work. Alice treated her daughters, their husbands, and five grandchildren to an all-expenses-paid ten-day family vacation in Cuba.

Savannah and Josie live it up in our Havana house (thanks to Airbnb.com)

All eleven of us arrived at the Havana airport on the 1st of April. In what is perhaps a first for such a large group, we didn't use a tour company, and did all the planning and making reservations ourselves (actually, Alice's daughters and their families did almost all of the work, and Alice funded their efforts).

Sharing Havana with Fidel

We roamed Havana for several days, then toured Vinales, the Bay of Pigs, Cienfuegos, and Trinidad.

Among many highlights were the wonderful meals we enjoyed at private homes and restaurants (a welcome contrast to the poorly prepared ones at government-run resorts). The crème de la crème (we thought) was dinner at a private home in Vinales that featured rock lobster tails, chicken, and many tasty side dishes. But then in Trinidad we celebrated Alice's birthday (three weeks late) at a delightful paladar (private restaurant), Restaurante Museo.

Restaurante Museo, Trinidad

Alice's birthday dinner

Dancing the night away!

Again lots of rock lobster tails, beautiful colonial decor, an entertaining band, and dancing with the young host and hostess (and with each other, of course).

Kevin helps keep the memory of Hugo Chavez alive (in Cuba, anyway)

Josie with the ubiquitous Che

I had to show the Cubans how to do Cuban music right. They caught on quickly.

On our return, inspired by performing in Jekyll & Hyde, The Musical, last year, I coupled my limited talent and almost nonexistent acting experience with an abundance of enthusiasm and was a drag queen and cafe manager for six performances in La Cage aux Folles at the Gualala Arts Center, and various roles (political committeeman, Senator from Massachusetts, reporter, policeman, and perhaps others) in three performances of Gershwin's Of Thee I Sing at the Point Arena Theater.

74-year old Drag Queen

The closest thing to a compliment I received for my female impersonation was a comment in our local paper: "nice legs". Woody Allen said that 80% of success is showing up, but then someone else said that some people shouldn't show up. Either way, I sure had fun.

Vulcan Wire's Christmas Party
(click on picture to enlarge)
(For the story of Alice founding Vulcan, please click here)

In March we go to Cabo San Lucas, then to La Paz for 15 days on a small cruise ship for snorkeling and whale watching in the Bay of Cortez, back to Cabo, then home. After our two trips before Cuba, Antarctica and the Arctic, it will be nice to leave the parkas, sweaters, and boots behind and pack modest swimsuits and plenty of sun screen.